Multilayered bulletproof device

ABSTRACT

Multilayered bulletproof device including a first layer external during use, provided with a first surface external during use, suitable to receive firearm bullets, a second surface internal during use, a second layer internal during use, disposed facing the second surface of the first layer and defined by a plurality of fibers, where the first layer is made of metal material and the first surface of the first layer is provided with a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on the first surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns a multilayered bulletproof device, which can be used both as a device for personal protection, integrated for example in armor worn by a user, and also to protect means of transport such as armor-plated means, aircrafts or suchlike.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Multilayered bulletproof devices are known, used to protect users from bullet shots.

Multilayered bulletproof devices are also known, usually worn by users to protect them and defining a part of a protective armor.

These multilayered bulletproof devices are usually coupled with each other to protect the front part of the body, i.e. the sternum, the back part of the body, i.e. the back, and the lateral parts of the body, i.e. the sides. Each of the parts is called the code of an armor and can be articulated with respect to the others so as to allow freedom of movement for the user wearing it.

Multilayered bulletproof devices are sized to resist shots from firearms with high-caliber bullets, including AK-47s.

Known multilayered bulletproof devices comprise a plurality of plates made of ceramic materials, overlapping each other to cover a determinate surface and one or more layers of fibers, associated with the plates made of ceramic material and located, during use, inside the plates themselves.

The ceramic plates are substantially circular in shape, with a diameter of a few centimeters and are disposed partly overlapping each other, to cover a determinate surface zone and to obtain an armor with a scaled weave.

The ceramic plates are made of ballistic ceramic, having properties of great mechanical resistance and great resistance to impacts. Following impact with the bullet of a firearm, the ceramic plates break, absorbing the impact energy of the bullet and protecting the user who is wearing it. The ceramic material has a fragile breaking behavior that causes a total or partial crumbling of the plates hit by the bullet.

The layers of fibers can be made of Kevlar, and are configured to absorb and contain the impact energy to which the ceramic plates are subjected.

A bulletproof device is also known, from DE-A-10.2011.078.681, consisting of a ceramic layer, facing toward the outside during use, and suitable to receive a bullet, a metal layer conformed as a plate and facing toward the inside, and an intermediate layer made of metal foam, interposed between the ceramic layer and the metal layer.

The ceramic layer has its surface provided with a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, and substantially conformed as a pyramid. The pyramid structure allows to deflect the trajectory of the bullet, making it lose part of its kinetic energy, and therefore allows to reduce the impact on the multilayered bulletproof device.

Although they guarantee a first protection for the user following a firearm shot, known solutions of layers of ceramic material are not able to ensure the protection of the user from other bullet shots received in the same zone. In fact, the zone hit by the bullet suffers considerable damage which puts the bulletproof device out of use.

Solutions of multilayered bulletproof devices are also known, from documents DE-A-199.28.370, DE-A-35.37.093 and FR-A-469.915, which comprise a first layer, external during use, made of metal material and shaped so that the surface, facing toward the outside during use and suitable to receive a bullet, is provided with a plurality of protruding portions distributed one adjacent to the other on the first surface.

Furthermore, these documents provide that, as well as the first layer, there is also a second layer located adjacent to the first layer, and located on the side of the first layer that is internal during use.

The second layer is defined by a plurality of fibers suitable to contain the deformation to which the first layer is usually subjected due to the impact with the bullet.

This known solution described in documents DE-A-199.28.370 and DE-A-35.37.093 provides that the first layer is defined by a layer of metal sheet, corrugated so as to define protruding portions that develop longitudinally along the whole longitudinal extension of the bulletproof device.

This configuration of the first layer, however, is not able to adequately absorb the impact energy of the bullet, in particular, if the latter hits the first layer in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal extension of one of the protruding portions.

Furthermore, the first layer is obtained by rolling/shaping a metal sheet which, if hit by a bullet, is deformed and its corrugated shape is flattened. The deformation of the first layer allows to obtain an effect of absorbing the energy of the bullet.

However, due to the structure and conformation of the first layer, this solution is inefficient with regard to high-caliber bullets, in which the energies at play are particularly high. Indeed, in this case, the bullet perforates the first layer directly, without causing any absorption of the impact by the deformation of the layer.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain a multilayered bulletproof device able to resist a plurality of impacts in the same surface portion.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a multilayered bulletproof device with uniform capacities of resistance in the different directions.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a multilayered bulletproof device that allows to protect the user from the impact of bullets fired by high-caliber rifles.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a multilayered bulletproof device able to contain the bullet and/or possible fragments that are generated during the impact with the bullet.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, a multilayered bulletproof device comprises:

a first layer, facing toward the outside during use, made of a metal material and provided with a first surface, facing toward the outside during use, suitable to receive firearm bullets, and having a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on the first surface, and with a second surface, facing toward the inside during use, and

a second layer, facing toward the inside during use, disposed facing the second surface of the first layer and defined by a plurality of fibers.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the protruding portions each have a pyramid shape with a polygonal base defined by a plurality of walls converging toward a vertex.

In this way, when a bullet hits the first surface, it is deflected by the protruding portions, dissipating the impact energy that is distributed on the first layer. The metal material, unlike a ceramic material, is not subjected to a mainly fragile breakage, and is able to absorb the impact, which has already been damped by the protruding portions, of the bullet.

Furthermore, the mechanical properties of the metal material, and also the particular shape of the protruding portions, confer on the multilayered bulletproof device the capacity to resist a plurality of impacts on the same surface portion.

Moreover, the particular shape of the protruding portions confers on the multilayered bulletproof device a uniform resistance to the impact of a bullet in any direction from which it arrives, unlike in solutions known in the state of the art where the behavior varies greatly according to the different directions.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the multilayered bulletproof device comprises a third layer configured as a plate, made of metal material, disposed facing and resting on the second layer on the opposite side to the side in contact with the first layer.

The function of the third layer is to contain the deformation to which both the first layer and the second layer are subjected following impact with the bullet. In particular, the third layer has a synergic effect with the particular configuration of the first surface of the first layer in that both are intended to dissipate and absorb the impact energy of the bullet on the multilayered bulletproof device, and therefore ensure that the persons wearing it are unharmed.

The present invention also concerns a method to make a multilayered bulletproof device that comprises:

making a first layer with a metal material to define a first surface, facing toward the outside during use, having a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on the first surface,

making a second layer with a plurality of fibers;

disposing the second layer facing toward the inside during use and facing a second surface of the first layer opposite the first surface.

According to one feature of the method of the present invention, during the making of the first layer, the protruding portions are obtained with a pyramidal shape with a polygonal base defined by a plurality of walls converging toward a vertex. The method also comprises making a third layer configured as a plate made of metal material, and disposing the third layer facing and resting on the second layer on the opposite side to that in contact with the first layer.

These and other aspects, characteristics and advantages of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to the following description, drawings and attached claims. The drawings, which are integrated and form part of the present description, show some forms of embodiment of the present invention, and together with the description, are intended to describe the principles of the disclosure.

The various aspects and characteristics described in the present description can be applied individually where possible. These individual aspects, for example aspects and characteristics described in the attached dependent claims, can be the object of divisional applications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of a multilayered bulletproof device in accordance with a possible form of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section view of the multilayered bulletproof device in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3-9 are section views of a multilayered bulletproof device in accordance with possible variants;

FIG. 10 is a photographic image of shooting trials carried out on a multilayered bulletproof device.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings. It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form of embodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms of embodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORM OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of the present invention, of which one or more examples are shown in the attached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of the invention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. For example, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they are part of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in association with, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment. It is understood that the present invention shall include all such modifications and variants.

FIGS. 1-6 are used to describe possible forms of embodiment of a multilayered bulletproof device to protect individuals or armor-plated means, which is indicated in its entirety by the reference number 10.

According to a possible form of embodiment, the multilayered bulletproof device 10 comprises a first layer 11, located external during use, and provided with a first surface 12, facing toward the outside during use, suitable to directly receive firearm bullets, and with a second surface 13, facing toward the inside during use.

The first layer 11 can be suitably shaped, for example to define one or more concavities/rounded parts that are adapted to the surface or to the body of the person on which it is installed/worn.

According to one feature of the present invention, at least the first surface 12 of the first layer 11 is provided with a plurality of protruding portions 14 distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on the first surface 12. In particular, the protruding portions 14 are made in a single body.

According to a possible solution, the protruding portions 14 are distributed on the first surface 12 in a matrix configuration, that is, distributed aligned according to a disposition along lines and columns.

According to a possible solution, the protruding portions 14 can have a shape chosen between a conical shape and a pyramid shape.

According to the form of embodiment in FIG. 1, the protruding portions 14 have a pyramid shape with a square base, although it is not excluded that, in other forms of embodiment, it can have a polygonal base, for example triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal and so on.

According to a possible solution, if the protruding portions 14 have a pyramid shape, it can be provided that they are defined by a plurality of walls 16, all converging toward a vertex 15.

According to a possible solution, the vertex 15 has an angle at the vertex a with an amplitude comprised between 70° and 120°, preferably comprised between 80° and 100°, even more preferably about 90°.

In this way the walls 16 of adjacent protruding portions 14 define concavities 17 to deflect the bullet.

The function of the reciprocal angle of the walls 16 of the protruding portions 14 is to deflect the bullet impacting on the protruding portions 14. The deflection of the bullet in turn determines an absorption of energy and hence a reduction in the impact energy of the bullet on the first layer 10. The configuration with protruding portions 14 of the first layer 11 in fact allows the latter to resist shots from firearms with very high energy.

The vertex 15 can be rounded with a radius of curvature R (FIG. 2), the sizes of which are mainly dictated by production requirements of the first layer 11, as will be clear hereafter in the description, and allow to prevent the presence of dangerous contusive portions for the users.

The radius of curvature R can be comprised between 0.5 mm and 2 mm.

Other forms of embodiment can provide that the connection edges between the walls 16 of each of the protruding portions 14 are rounded. In this case too, the sizes of the radius of curvature R are mainly dictated by production requirements.

According to possible solutions, the second surface 13 can be substantially flat as shown for example in FIG. 3, or can be provided with a plurality of cavities 18, each made in correspondence with one of the protruding portions 14 as shown for example in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The cavities 18 allow to lighten the first layer 11 in its entirety, so as to give the whole multilayered bulletproof device 10 a better performance in applications in protection armors for personal use.

According to possible solutions, each cavity 18 has a shape substantially analogous to that of the protruding portion 14.

The cavities 18 can be made directly during the step of making the protruding portions 14, although it is not excluded that they can be made by removal of material, such as for example holing or milling.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the first layer 11 is made of a metal material.

The metal material can be chosen from a group consisting of titanium, titanium alloys, super alloys and high-resistance steels.

According to a possible form of embodiment, the first layer 11 is obtained by forging. During the forging operations, it can also be provided to obtain the protruding portions 14 already in their finished form, and possibly the cavities 18.

By obtaining the first layer by means of forging operations, it is possible to increase the mechanical resistance of the first layer 11 thanks to the plastic deformation to which the material is subjected and to the microstructural modification of the material following the heating/cooling cycles to which it is subjected during forging.

According to other forms of embodiment, when it is made the first layer 11 can be subjected to one or more heat treatments suitable to confer on the material resistance to the impact of bullets.

The heat treatment to which the first layer 11 is subjected can be chosen from a group comprising a solubilization treatment, an ageing treatment, an annealing treatment or a possible combination thereof.

One example of the heat treatments made by Applicant, non-restrictive of the present invention, provides an annealing treatment β followed by solubilization and super-ageing, also known as BETA STOA treatment. This treatment is carried out while keeping the material, in this case Titanium Gr5, for 1 hour at a temperature of 1035° C., then cooling it in water. Afterward, a heating at 700° C. is immediately carried out, where the material is maintained for 2.5 hours.

Applicant has seen that the BETA STOA heat treatment improves the performance under stress of the material treated.

In particular, Applicant has verified that the BETA STOA treatment makes the material harder, and such that the first layer 11, even if it is partly holed, retains and slows down the bullet, reducing its force which is then discharged onto and absorbed by the layers disposed under the first layer 11.

In possible implementations, the first layer 11 has a hardness which can be comprised between 420HB and 480HB, preferably between 460HB and 480HB.

According to possible solutions, the first layer 11 has a thickness comprised between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 10 mm, more preferably between 5.5 mm and 6.5 mm.

The choice of the size of thickness of the first layer 11 is evaluated, on each occasion, according to the particular application to which the multilayered bulletproof device 10 is applied.

According to another feature of the present invention, the multilayered bulletproof device 10 comprises at least a second layer 19, facing toward the inside during use, disposed facing internally the second surface 13 of the first layer 11 and made by a plurality of fibers. The second layer 19 is configured to absorb the deformation energy to which the first layer 11 is subjected after a bullet hits. The fibers of the second layer 19 can also be configured to retain possible fragments that are formed at the moment of impact of the bullet.

The fibers that the second layer 19 is made of are chosen from a group comprising aramid fibers, carbon fibers, fabrics with a synthetic base or a natural base.

According to possible solutions, the fibers can be drowned in a binding material, merely by way of example an epoxy resin.

According to possible solutions, the second layer 19 is located resting on the second surface 13 of the first layer 11.

According to another possible form of embodiment, the second layer 19 is attached to the second surface 13 of the first layer 11.

The second layer 19 can be attached to the first layer 11 by using glues, or possibly by the same binding material described above.

In yet other solutions, it can be provided that the fibers of the second layer 19 are woven together to form a mesh. This solution allows to increase the capacity of containing the impact of the bullet.

According to another form of embodiment, the multilayered bulletproof device 10 also comprises a third layer 20 configured as a plate, made of metal material, disposed facing and resting on the second layer 19 on the opposite side to the side in contact with the first layer 11. The third layer 20 can have a substantially uniform thickness.

According to possible solutions, the third layer 20 is attached to the second layer 19 using glues.

The third layer 20 can be attached to the second layer 19, as possibly also the first layer 11 to the second layer 19, with glues, using hot gluing operations under pressure, with pressure values comprised between 5 and 12 bar, preferably about 10 bar.

The function of the third layer 20 is to contain the deformations to which the second layer 19 is subjected following the impact of a bullet. In particular, the third layer 20 allows to keep the fibers of the second layer 19 in contact with the first layer 11 so as to guarantee that the deformations of the first layer 11 and the second layer 19 are contained.

According to possible solutions, the metal material that the third layer 20 is made of is chosen from a group comprising titanium, an alloy of titanium, super alloys, and high-resistance steels.

One possible solution of the present invention provides that the third layer 20 is made of titanium Gr4 or titanium Gr5.

In some forms of embodiment the third layer 20 can have a thickness comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 0.7 mm and 3 mm, more preferably about 1 mm.

A possible variant, which can be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, can provide that between the first layer 11 and the third layer 20 a fourth layer 21 is interposed, with a porous or trabecular configuration and made of metal material. The porous or trabecular configuration of the fourth layer 21 allows to define a metal mesh for containing the deformations to which the first layer 11 will be subjected.

According to the form of embodiment in FIG. 4, the fourth layer 21 is interposed between the second layer 19 and the third layer 20, although it is not excluded that the fourth layer 21 is interposed with, or possibly made integral with, the first layer 11.

The fourth layer 21 can be made of a metal material, chosen from a group comprising titanium or titanium alloy.

According to another variant, the multilayered bulletproof device 10 can comprise two or more first layers 11 disposed one overlapping the other, as shown for example in FIGS. 5 and 6.

According to a possible solution, an example of which is shown in FIG. 5, the first layers 11 overlap each other so that the protruding portions 14 of the first layer 11 located below are disposed in the cavities 18 present in the first layer 11 disposed above.

The fact that each protruding portion 14 and each cavity 18 have the same shape allows to overlap first layers 11 either partly, for example when reciprocal jointing is required, or totally, for example if it is necessary to duplicate or triplicate the power of stopping the bullets.

The shapes of the protruding portions 14 also allow to simplify the partial overlapping of several multilayered bulletproof devices 10, allowing, if necessary, a jointed coupling.

According to another possible solution, an example of which is shown in FIG. 6, the first layers 11 overlap each other reciprocally, angularly staggered or distanced, so that only one zone of the walls 16 of each of the protruding portions 14 of the first layer 11 disposed below is in contact with a corresponding support zone of the cavities 18 of the first layer 11 located above.

In this way, discontinuities are generated between the two first layers 11, such as to increase the absorption of the bullet's impact.

According to the form of embodiment shown in FIGS. 7-9, which can possibly be combined with all the forms of embodiment described here, the multilayered bulletproof device 10 can comprise at least a protective layer 22, disposed resting on the first surface 12 of the first layer 11 to cover the entire surface development of the latter.

The protective layer 22 is configured to contain possible fragments that are generated following the impact of a bullet against the first layer 11. The fragments can be generated both due to the partial fragmentation of a portion of the first layer 11, and also the fragmentation of the bullet itself.

The protective layer 22 can be chosen from a group comprising a metal plate (FIG. 7), a layer of fibers (FIG. 8), or a possible combination thereof (FIG. 9).

The protective layer 22 can be located during use more externally with respect to all the other layers, and be configured to receive a bullet directly.

According to the solution shown in FIG. 7, the protective layer 22 is defined by a metal plate, for example substantially analogous to the metal plate that defines the third layer 20.

On impact with a bullet, the protective layer 22 is holed by it and the bullet reaches the first layer 11 in which it is deflected.

Closed cavities are defined between the protective layer 22 and the first layer 11, suitable to contain the fragments that are generated by the impact with the bullet.

In the solution shown in FIG. 8, the protective layer 22 is defined by a layer of fibers with, for example, a configuration substantially analogous to that of the second layer 19 described above.

The protective layer 22 made of fibers rests on the first surface of the first layer 11, and the fibers with which it is provided allow to trap inside them possible fragments that are generated by the impact of the bullet with the first layer 11.

FIG. 9 shows a form of embodiment in which the protective layer 22 is defined both by a metal plate and by a layer of fibers. This solution allows to increase the action of retaining the fragments and is able to partly absorb the impact energy of the bullet.

Experimental Tests

Applicant has tested the multilayered bulletproof device 10 described above with different calibers of bullets. We shall now give the energy values with which the bullet, from a distance of 15 meters, hit the multilayered bulletproof device 10.

caliber 223 Remington Bullet FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) energy developed: 1179.7 Joule;

caliber 7.62×39 Bullet FMJ (Full Metal Jacket) energy developed: 1990.6 Joule;

caliber 308 Win. Bullet Sierra 30 HPBT (Hollow Point Bobtail) energy developed: 3254.4 Joule.

Experimental Tests Test 1

FIG. 7 shows a multilayered bulletproof device 10 on which three firing tests were carried out with three different calibers fired at a distance of 16 meters:

point 1 caliber 223 Remington Bullet FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), speed 826.5 m/s, bullet weight 55 g fired with a semiautomatic rifle Smith & Wesson MP15 cal. .223 Rem;

point 2 caliber 7.62×39 Bullet FMJ (Full Metal Jacket), speed 707.2 m/s, bullet weight 123 g, fired with a semiautomatic rifle Nuova Jager AK 47 cal. 7.62×39;

point 3 bullet speed 756 m/s, bullet weight 168 g, fired with a semiautomatic rifle Nuova Jager M14 cal. 308 Win.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the multilayered bulletproof device as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention. 

1. Multilayered bulletproof device comprising: a first layer facing toward the outside during use, made of metal material and provided with a first surface facing toward the outside during use, suitable to directly receive firearm bullets, and having a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on said first surface and with a second surface facing toward the inside during use, and a second layer facing toward the inside during use, disposed facing said second surface of said first layer and defined by a plurality of fibers, wherein said protruding portions have a pyramid shape with a polygonal base defined by a plurality of walls converging toward a vertex and wherein the device further comprises a third layer configured as a plate, made of metal material, disposed facing and resting on the second layer on the opposite side to the side in contact with said first layer.
 2. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said first layer is obtained by a forging operations.
 3. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein the metal material that said first layer is made of is chosen from a group consisting of titanium, alloys of titanium, super alloys, high-resistance steels.
 4. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said protruding portions are distributed on said first surface according to a matrix configuration.
 5. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said protruding portions have a conical shape or a pyramidal shape.
 6. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said vertex has an angle at the vertex with an amplitude comprised between 70° and 120°.
 7. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein it comprises at least a protective layer disposed resting on the first surface to cover the entire surface development of the latter, and configured to contain possible fragments that are generated following the impact of a bullet against said first layer.
 8. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 7, wherein said protective layer comprises at least one of a metal plate and a layer of fibers.
 9. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said second surface comprises a plurality of cavities each made in correspondence to one of said protruding portions and wherein said cavities have a shape substantially mating in a negative with said protruding portions.
 10. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, wherein said fibers that said second layer is made of comprise at least one of aramid fibers, carbon fibers, fabrics with a synthetic base or a natural base.
 11. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 1, further comprising a plurality of first layers disposed overlapping each other.
 12. Method to make a multilayered bulletproof device, comprising: making a first layer with metal material to define a first surface facing toward the outside during use, having a plurality of protruding portions distributed uniformly, one adjacent to the other, on said first surface making a second layer with a plurality of fibers; disposing the second layer facing toward the inside during use and facing a second surface of the first layer opposite the first surface wherein during the making of said first layer said protruding portions are obtained with a pyramidal shape with a polygonal base defined by a plurality of walls converging toward a vertex and wherein the method further comprises making a third layer configured as a plate made of metal material, and disposing the third layer facing and resting on the second layer on the opposite side to that in contact with the first layer.
 13. Method as in claim 12, wherein the first layer is obtained a forging operations.
 14. Method as in claim 12, wherein said first layer is subjected to at least a heat treatment comprising at least one of a solubilization treatment, an ageing treatment, and an annealing treatment.
 15. Method as in claim 12, further comprising making a protective layer configured to contain possible fragments that are generated following the impact of a bullet against said first layer and disposing said protective layer resting on said first surface of said first layer.
 16. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 6, wherein said vertex has an angle at the vertex with an amplitude comprised between 80° and 100°.
 17. Multilayered bulletproof device as in claim 6, wherein said vertex has an angle at the vertex with an amplitude comprised of about 90°. 